Second's best for in-form Magpies

Dale Whitham got the second goal (photo by Josh Vosper)

But once in front, the Magpies played with tremendous confidence and moved the ball more accurately to dominate play.

However, a late cameo appearance by Worcester substitute Lee Hughes might on another day have spoiled the home side’s party.

The former West Bromwich Albion striker introduced a touch of genuine class and beat Sam Ashton with a delicate chip which hit the bar, City hot-shot Daniel Nti slipping and scuffing his attempt to pot the rebound.

Then, with two minutes to go, Hughes was tripped inside the box but saw Ashton pull off a tremendous save from his penalty arrowing for the top corner. But, these escapes aside, the Magpies were good value for the win which completed a league double over City.

They played well as a unit and were all the sharper for the introduction of second-half substitute Jack Dorney, back at the club after a stint at Trafford.

Worcester had begun brightly and Walsall-loanee Amadou Bakamoko spurned the game’s first chance, firing an angled drive wide of the far post. Then Nti tested Ashton with a dipping 25-yard drive which the keeper turned over at full stretch.

But the visitors could not maintain the ascendancy and as Chorley got on top, Jordan Connerton brought a good save from Nathan Vaughan at his near post.

It was Connerton who put Chorley ahead on 60 minutes.

Andy Bond’s free-kick was unaccountably headed back across goal by a City defender and Connerton applied the finish at the far post. Four minutes later an incisive run by Darren Stephenson led to Dorney dummying the cut- back, leaving Dale Whitham to smash a low drive beyond Vaughan.

Manager Matt Jansen said: “Conditions weren’t great but we played the pitch, put the ball in the right areas and caused a good side problems.

“The lads were brilliant at times today and of course Sam’s penalty-save was fantastic.”

CHORLEY: Ashton, Ross, Beesley, Teague, Roscoe, Cottrell, Lynch (Dorney 55), Whitham, Connerton, Bond, Stephenson (Dean 83). Subs (not used):Bailey, Charnock, Field

Attendance: 887.